Jewish cemetery in Skwierzyna

The Jewish cemetery in Skwierzyna, one of the largest *kirkuts* (Jewish cemeteries) in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, covers an area of approximately 2.23 hectares. The cemetery contains valuable tombstones (matzevot), mostly dating back to the 18th century, with the oldest one inscribed with the year 1736. The cemetery, which may have existed since the 15th century, remained in use until the 1930s. In addition to its connection with the local Jewish community, the cemetery survived World War II in relatively good condition. The destruction began in the 1970s when local authorities sought to liquidate it. The matzevot, made mainly of sandstone, granite, and fieldstones, feature unique decorations and symbols—such as the hands of a priest, books, or the Eye of Providence—reflecting both Hebrew and Protestant traditions. In 1992, the cemetery was entered into the register of historical monuments, and restoration work was carried out in 2002. However, it was vandalized just a year later. In 2015, the site was cleaned up by volunteers. Today, located on Judenberg, the cemetery remains the only tangible trace of the Jewish presence in Skwierzyna and serves as a memorial to the former community. Among the notable features is the tombstone of David Meyer, an educational reformer, distinguished by rich ornamentation symbolizing wisdom. It is also worth noting that the inscriptions on the tombstones are in both Hebrew and German, underscoring the multicultural character of the site and the history of Jews in the region.